cupertino-based

Apple overtakes HP as biggest PC-maker

The late great Steve Jobs may have declared it the “post-PC era,” but Apple just became the biggest maker of personal computers in the world. Apple pulled ahead of Hewlett Packard in the fourth quarter of last year to become the largest vendor of personal computers, due in large part to the extraordinary demand for its iPad. According to a report by market research firm Canalys, Apple shipped more than 15 million iPads and 5 million Mac computers in the quarter ending 31 December 2011 – representing 17 per cent of the total 120 million client PCs shipped globally in Q4. The client PC market – including desktops, netbooks, notebooks and pads – grew 16 per cent year-on-year; however, take away pads from the equation and the PC market declined by 0.4 per cent. Of the other top five PC vendors, only Lenovo managed to increase its market share – growing by just two points in comparison to Apple’s six-point gain. Acer, Dell and HP all lost market share. Now the second largest PC vendor, HP was the hardest hit as the company struggles to keep up with competitors following the end of its Touchpad. “Currently, HP is pursuing a Windows strategy for its pad portfolio, producing enterprise-focused products, such as the recently launched Slate 2, until the launch of Windows 8,” said Canalys Analyst Tim Coulling in the company’s official press release .

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Apple overtakes HP as biggest PC-maker